Last updated: September 2022
The changes in rules and restrictions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic might be confusing, scary, and stressful.
There are no 'normal' responses to restriction changes, and there is support available to help you through this uncertain time, however you may be feeling.
Keeping yourself well and safe as possible is most important.
Useful information
- Free, fast, confidential support: self-referral
- Covid-19 self-help and mental wellbeing support videos for people struggling personally with Covid-19 recovery, or experiencing changes in mood as a result of changing circumstances.
- Mind provide lots of information for coping with the different feelings that restriction changes can cause.
- Overcoming has a book series that can help with many of the feelings caused by Covid-19. The books use methods based on clinical practice and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
- Staff Support Line: operated by the Samaritans free access from 7:00am – 11:00pm, Call: 0800 069 6222 or Text: FRONTLINE to 85258 for support 24/7 via text
- Request-a-callback: fill in the form to arrange a time for us to give you a call for a wellbeing conversation
You may have been working from home for quite some time, or perhaps it is new to you. Either way, this change can be difficult to adapt to whilst also managing your mental wellbeing. Explore the resources below about working from home:
- Research about working from home and your mental wellbeing. The findings suggest people feel less connected with their colleagues, exercising less, and sleep issues. Explore our Connecting with Others page, Exercising and Staying Active page, and Sleep page for dedicated support on these topics.
- Cityparents has webinars, podcasts and expert advice about changes to working patterns. To access these materials and the site you need to register with them first using your work email address.
- 7 simple tips for working from home
- Tips for you and your team
- Information about working from home for employers
- Toolkit with resources for supporting yourself and your colleagues during the pandemic
- Desk yoga
- University of Dundee gives practical advice about online meetings
- Microsoft Teams training for healthcare staff. Register to access this and other e-learning courses.
- Flexible working, returning to the workplace, and overcoming barriers to changes in working pattern
- Watch these webinars about working from home:
Covid restrictions remain in place across all healthcare settings in England. This means staff, patients and visitors are all expected to follow guidance on social distancing, mask wearing, testing, and vaccinations while they are in hospitals or community settings. This includes those working in care homes. Source: SLaM.
Certain organisations, such as Transport for London, are still enforcing the wearing of face coverings rule. For detailed advice about face coverings, including when and how to wear one, visit this gov.uk website.
Read the government guidelines on Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result, updated on 12th August 2021.
How are the restriction changes making you feel?
If you are feeling anxious, afraid and scared about the latest changes in restrictions, that is okay. Support is available through the below links:
- For ways to manage anxiety, see our dedicated page to anxiety
- Learn how to manage anxiety and fear during Covid-19 and lockdown changes here.
- Better Health has some tips for coping with anxiety whilst coming out of lockdown
- Information about face coverings and anxiety
- How to deal with the uncertainty of lockdown and beyond
- Reconnecting with nature can improve mental wellbeing - have a listen to this podcast where the Project Manager of the Eden Project explains
You might feel stressed about your routine changing, and the unpredictability of what will happen next.
- For ways to manage stress, see our dedicated page on stress
- Coping with stress during Covid-19
- Listen to this podcast about dealing with stress and trauma
If someone you know has died during the pandemic, the easing of lockdown can be a tough reminder of your loss. You may be feeling low as others are seemingly enjoying more freedom. Below are support services and coping strategies to help you through this time.
- For ways to manage feeling sad, see our dedicated pages for low mood and bereavement.
- Learn about ways to manage your low mood during the pandemic and lockdown changes here.
-
Hope Again provide information and support for young people and families after a bereavement. Call: 0808 808 1677 (helpline). Website: hopeagain.org.uk
-
BAMEStream Bereavement Support offers 3 free bereavement sessions for anyone over 18 years old and who identifies as Black, Asian or any other Minority Ethnicity who has been affected by the death of a loved one due to Covid-19. Support is available in multiple languages and you can self-refer. Call: 0207 263 6947. Wesbite: bamestream.org.uk/bereavement-support
Information on the COVID vaccine
Concerns about the vaccine can be varied, whether in relation to possible side effects, in response to social media posts or other understandable concerns and worries
Millions of people across the UK and the world have now received the Covid-19 vaccination. In doing so they have helped protect themselves, their families and others.
Further information in different languages about the vaccine and details of how to book or visit a walk-in clinic can be found on the South East London Clinical Commission Group (SEL CCG) website and the SEL vaccination website respectively.
Below are some useful resources to check your knowledge on the vaccines:
- health & care professions council: vaccinations - what you need to know
- Nursing & Midwifery Council: Information about vaccines
- British Medical Association: Covid-19 - vaccines information
- British Islamic Medical Association: Vaccine Myths
- Royal College of Nursing: Covid-19 and vaccination FAQs
- Unison: Covid-19 Immunisation of NHS Staff
- GMB: Vaccination
- Carribean & African Health Network: COVID-19 vaccination toolkit for Black African and Black African Caribbean communities
- Healthy London Partnership: Responding to vaccine hesitancy
- Manchester University NHS FT: Covid-19 Vaccine Mythbusters
- The Health Depot: Covid-19 Vaccines Explained
- University of Sunderland: Busting the vaccine myths
- Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership: Myth busting - Covid-19 vaccine
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: guidance on coronavirus
Below are useful information on vaccinations, pregnancy and fertility:
- Clinical lead for obstetrics and gynaecology: the importance of getting vaccinated during pregnancy
- Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists: evidence that COVID-19 vaccine is safe in pregnancy
- British Fertility Society and Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists: Vaccine FAQ
- Royal College of Midwives: Covid-19 infection in pregnancy
The fear of needles is very common and is something that can be managed with help.
Below are some resources with quick tips and techniques:
- Infotagion: The independent, expert fact-checking service for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Sourced from WHO, UK and other official government advice.
- SHARE checklist: Guide for how to spot false and misleading content.
- Ofcom: A set of resources to help cut through the confusion and provide people with the tools to navigate news and information about Covid-19. Resources include Tools for fact-checking; tips on debunking misleading claims; and support for parents and children.
- Gov.uk: reasons you could get a medical exemption.
Video
Listen to why Sabrina decided to get the Covid 19 vaccine.
Just like many of us, Sabrina had reasons for being hesitant about taking the vaccine. Listen to her reasons and how she came to the decision of taking the vaccine.
"I've taken the vaccine to protect myself but also to protect our vulnerable patients."
Videos on the Covid-19 vaccine
COVID and misinformation
Over the last two decades, our relationship with information has been changing with the rise of greater connectivity with the internet, smartphones increasing our ability to access information wherever we are, and social media giving voice to different views and insights, which has had an impact on health.
In this video, you will hear from Alison and Luca, experts of information and media literacy from Ofcom, particularly on how people are relating to information including health information, which helps us potentially improve health outcomes of individuals and communities.